Jay Winik is a New York Times best-selling author and American historian, renowned for his compelling narrative style and deep dives into pivotal moments in history. He is best known for his book April 1865: The Month That Saved America.

Before dedicating himself to writing, Winik had a significant career in the U.S. government's foreign policy arena. He was involved in addressing civil wars globally, from the former Yugoslavia to El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Cambodia. Notably, he contributed to the creation of the United Nations plan designed to end Cambodia's civil war.

In 1991, Jay Winik transitioned to a full-time career in writing, focusing on historical narratives that capture the complexity and drama of the past.